Earth Orbit

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  Soviet Venus Lander Kosmos 482 Crashes to Earth After 53 Years in Orbit

  Off-page Excerpt: Kosmos 482, a failed Soviet Venus lander launched in 1972, finally fell to Earth on May 10 after 53 years in orbit. Reentry estimates vary, but experts believe the probe likely splashed into the Indian Ocean. Designed to withstand Venus’s atmosphere, it may have reached Earth’s surface intact, renewing global concerns over un...

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  Soviet-Era Spacecraft Kosmos 482 Crashes Into Earth Near...

  The 53-year-old Cold War-era Soviet spaceship, initially bound for Venus, fell into the sea after entering Earth.

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  Elon Musk's Starlink Gets DoT Nod to Offer Satcom Services in India

  Starlink has been cleared by the Department of Telecom (DoT) to offer satcom services in India. Unlike conventional satellite services that rely on distant geostationary satellites, Starlink utilises the world's largest low Earth orbit or LEO constellation (550 km above Earth).

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  Scientists Chase Falling Satellite to Study Atmospheric Pollution from Spacecraft Reentries

  In a rare airborne mission, scientists chased ESA's Cluster Salsa satellite as it reentered Earth's atmosphere. The fiery descent revealed emissions of lithium, potassium, and aluminum—chemicals that could impact the ozone layer and climate. With satellite reentries increasing, researchers aim to improve pollution models and plan further tracking...

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  Soviet-Era Spacecraft To Reenter Earth After 53 Years In Orbit: Report

  A former Soviet spacecraft is predicted to crash back to Earth this week.

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  NASA’s Don Pettit Returns to Earth with Russian Crewmates After ISS Science Mission

  Soyuz MS-26 safely landed in Kazakhstan on April 19, bringing NASA astronaut Don Pettit and two Russian cosmonauts back to Earth. The crew completed a months-long science mission aboard the ISS, conducting key experiments on 3D printing, water purification, fire behaviour, and plant biology, supporting future lunar and Mars exploration goals.

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  Soviet Venus Probe Cosmos 482 Expected to Reenter Earth After 52 Years in Orbit

  Cosmos 482, a Soviet Venus lander stranded in Earth’s orbit since a failed launch in 1972, is expected to reenter the atmosphere between May 8 and May 14, 2025. Experts believe it may partially survive reentry due to its durable Venus-resistant design, sparking interest among scientists and space watchers globally.

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  Cold War-Era Soviet Spacecraft Expected To Crash Back To Earth In May 2025

  A 50-year-old Soviet-era spacecraft, Kosmos 482, is set to crash back to Earth in May 2025, with its fate uncertain, sparking concerns about potential damage or impact.

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  NASA's New Satellite Duo Begins Tracking Mysterious Auroral Electrojets

  The EZIE mission is shaping up to be a breakthrough in space weather research. Launched in March 2025, its three satellites are now orbiting Earth and collecting data on auroral electrojets, massive energy currents near the poles. Scientists believe the results could lead to better forecasting tools and stronger, safer satellite systems.

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  China Uses Gravitational Slingshots to Rescue Two Satellites Stuck in Orbit for 123 Days

  After a rocket malfunction left two satellites spiralling in the wrong orbit, Chinese engineers turned to gravitational slingshot manoeuvres for a 123-day rescue mission—successfully restoring them and advancing China's ambitions in space autonomy.

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  Amazon Launches 27 Satellites to Start Building Project Kuiper Internet Constellation

  Amazon has launched 27 satellites as part of Project Kuiper, initiating a broadband constellation aimed at challenging SpaceX’s Starlink. Deployed via a ULA Atlas V rocket from Florida, the launch marks the first of over 80 missions planned to establish more than 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit, offering global internet coverage and advanced ...

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  SpaceX Launches 23 Starlink Satellites on Falcon 9 Rocket From Cape Canaveral

  SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capability, aboard a brand-new Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Centre. Marking its second launch of the day's mission, this was the first flight for this booster and the 50th Falcon 9 launch of the year, further expanding the Starlink megaconstellation in low Earth orbit.

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  Super Earths are Quite Common Outside the Solar System, New Study Reveals

  Using the microlensing technique, KMTNet studied the exoplanet, which is twice as big as Earth, yet smaller than Neptune. It is believed that there are more such super-Earths outside our solar system. It is common to have such planets orbiting their stars.

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  NASA Prepares to Launch First Quantum Sensor for Measuring Gravity from Orbit

  NASA, in collaboration with academia and private companies, is developing the first quantum sensor to map Earth’s gravity from space. Using cold rubidium atoms, the compact instrument will deliver highly sensitive, long-term measurements. This mission could transform how we study Earth’s subsurface and explore planetary bodies across the solar ...

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  On His 70th Birthday, NASA's Oldest Astronaut Don Pettit Set To Return To Earth

  Don Pettit, NASA's oldest astronaut, is set to return from space on April 19, his 70th birthday. Mr Pettit, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has completed more than 3,520 orbits of Earth.